Wings’ Ken Holland: No agreement in place with Marian Hossa

Earlier today a report by Michael Farber of SI.com reported that the Wings would likely re-sign Hossa:

While nothing will be announced during the Stanley Cup final, unrestricted free agent Marian Hossa likely will be signing a long-term deal, believed to be seven years, to stay with the Red Wings.

Interesting as it appeared that Eric Duhatschek had confirmed this a few days ago during an interview on TSN. He too said that the Wings expect to get something done after the July 1st free agent period begins.

But later today we got this report saying:

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday he does not have a contract agreement in place with forward Marian Hossa, contrary to a report by Sports Illustrated.

SI’s Michael Farber wrote: “While nothing will be announced during the Stanley Cup final, unrestricted free agent Marian Hossa likely will be signing a long-term deal, believed to be seven years, to stay with the Red Wings.”

“There is no agreement on a deal,” Holland said. “We’ve never had conversations about a seven-year deal in the three months I have talked to him. No truth to it.”

Now while he said there is no truth to them discussing a possible 7 year deal, perhaps GM Ken Holland is being a bit coy and literal as the terms of any long term deal are likely to be in the 10 year range. The cap hit of 7 years versus 10 years is significant and if Wings GM Holland has proven anything, it is that he is a master of working within the NHL’s salary cap.

Do IC readers think the Wings should re-sign Hossa?

Benjamin Jamison

If they re-sign Hossa say goodbye to guys like Samuelsson and Huddler. If the NHL salary cap shrinks which it seems likely to do the Wings are going to be up against it big time.

penguinsfan

Ken Campbell wrote this last year and clearly it still holds true:

There is absolutely no way Holland makes this deal exclusively with the 2008-09 season in mind. When Holland makes a deal of any magnitude, it must serve two purposes –that is make the Red Wings a better team in the short-term and a better team in the long-term. And there is no way Holland would have made the deal if he hadn’t already figured out there’s a good chance he’ll be able to get Hossa in the fold on a multi-year deal after next season.

I’m not a Wings fan but you have to respect Holland as a GM.

Missourimike

This is a very tough situation. It all really depends on what is going to happen to the Cap. Will it increase or decrease or stay the same? In the instance that it decreases then how can the Wings keep Hossa an the expense of a lot of their role players. Should be an interesting summer. I wouldn’t bet against Kenny Holland though.